Health Care Heroes - Kate's Kidney Donor Story

Hi! I'm Kate from Cincinnati, Ohio. I'm going to be blogging about my life changing decision to save a life. I'll be 21 May 22 of 2012. One week prior to what's supposed to be the "biggest party of your adult life" I'll be checked in at Cincinnati Children's Hospital being prepped for a life changing surgery. I'm not sick, I'm not hurt and I'm not in any medical need of surgery; I'm actually what I would consider a very healthy young adult. I don't smoke or have a drug habit, I try to work out and stay in shape in between being a full time mom, a full time employee at a Salon in Cincinnati and of course a full time partner to my fiance and father of my daughter.

I graduated, with Honors, in 2009 from a Greater Cincinnati High School. I cheered Varsity for 4 years and ran track 3 out of 4 years. I was a member of the National Honors Society and took the time to be apart of multiple walks for a variety of causes and dedicated my time to be a coach for 6th grade cheerleaders. I've tried my best to be an active blood donor through Hoxworth Blood and have always tried to "pay it forward" in life. After high school I took time to work and vacation before starting a Cosmetology program at a Cosmetics Institute in Cincinnati. Shortly after graduating I found out I was pregnant with my beautiful daughter, whom I named after a close friend that passed away in April 2010. She entered the world September 29 of 2011 at 2:25pm after 21 hours of labor. She weighed in at 7 pounds 1 ounce and was 19.25 inches long. She truly defines perfection in my mind and such a healthy and happy little girl. She has brought us the utmost joy, happiness and created a sense of completion in life.

At the end of the day, I'm just like you; I work a full time job, I pay bills, I enjoy watching my soon to be one year old daughter grow and change and I live a typical middle class young adult life. The only difference is on May 15 of 2012 I'm giving a piece of me to a someone a fourth of my age. Continue to read my daily blog to keep up with my story and my life altering decision to donate my kidney.